Another holiday favorite in Argentina and it's easy to know why–in the heat of a South American summer, nothing is as precious to the palate as a fresh tomato, picked at its peak. If you think that phrase is a mouthful, consider biting into one of these lovely, vine-ripened treats, stuffed with perfectly seasoned rice […]

As its name suggests, Ensalada Rusa, Russian Salad, has its origins in Russia. Over generations, it inched its way west to Spain, Portugal and Italy, and then made the jump to South America with waves of European and Russian immigrants. At its most simple, it consists of boiled potatoes, peas, and carrots swathed in a […]

Christmas came early for us this year (at least the dinner part, anyway!) We invited friends Kazia, Carina and Julio, Ruth and Brit, and Larry to join us in celebrating an Argentinean Christmastime feast. The dinner: all of the traditional holiday favorites, Argentina style. The menu included: Shrimp Cocktail Onion and Roquefort Empanadas Pionono with Tuna, Roasted Red Peppers and Olives […]

'Fusion' is a hip term these days, as the globe seems to be getting smaller and information is constantly shared, creating nonstop connectivity. Cultures are blending and melding at an amazing speed. In cuisine, that has translated into a lot of 'East meets West'–merging Asian flavors with European techniques, or Fusion. But just for just a moment, […]

Earlier this week, I listened to Spanish Chef Jose Andres wax poetic about his favorite end-of-the-month meal as a child; Garbanzos con Espinacas. (Guess what my favorite is!) The recipe is part of a series on NPR entitled "How Low Can You Go," where notable chefs feed a family of four for under $10. The recipes […]